The latest releases reviewed.

Directed by Gary Chapman. Voices of Ewan McGregor, Ricky Gervais, Tim Curry, John Cleese, John Hurt, Jim Broadbent, Hugh Laurie, Olivia Williams, Jonathan Ross G cert

A plucky carrier pigeon helps save England from the Nazis. Arriving on DVD a few weeks after the release of the Wallace and Gromit flick, this nuts-and-bolts British computer animation is bound to pale by comparison. It is, however, a perfectly respectable piece of work, featuring good, dumb jokes and fine voice work throughout. Donald Clarke

Directed by Neil Jordan. Starring Sarah Patterson, Angela Lansbury, Stephen Rea, David Warner, Micha Bergese, Brian Glover, Graham Crowden 18 cert

First released in 1984 and now available on DVD for the first time, Jordan's second feature film is rich in imagination and ambition, and highly original as it explores the darker, sexual side of familiar fairytales, chiefly Little Red Riding Hood. Based on a story by Angela Carter, who collaborated with Jordan on the screenplay, the film is eerie, sensual, and superbly designed by the late Anton Furst. Jordan provides a commentary on the DVD. Michael Dwyer

Directed by Damien Odoul. Starring Benoît Magimel, Laetitia Casta, Mattéo Tardito, Yann Goven, Philippe Frécon 18 cert

The versatile Magimel vividly catches the feckless, irresponsible nature of a compulsive liar forever promising to change but rooted in a fantasy world, and Casta is affecting as his practical, ever-patient young wife. Set mostly on the Côte d'Azur in the early 1970s, Odoul's tough, uncompromising drama has the authenticity and simmering power of a socially concerned picture by Ken Loach. It goes directly to DVD here. Michael Dwyer